Romantic couples looking for a weekend away to stare into each other eyes, whisper sweet nothings in each others' ears and stuff their faces with fantastic pizza could do a lot worse than the charming city of Verona.

The city may be the largest on the mainland Veneto but it's well off the standard tourist radar, making it an ideal place to wander amidst its soft pink medieval buildings and soak up the tranquil atmosphere.

Verona is the original city of star-crossed lovers as the inspiration for that rather famous Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. Head to Via Cappello - which the bard himself anglicised to Capulet - to see the Casa di Giulietta, otherwise known as Juliet's house.

Although the Capulet (Cappello) and Montague (Montecchi) families did actually exist in Verona, Romeo and Juliet are very much products of Shakespeare's imagination. But according to local legend, if you stand underneath the balcony and make a wish about love, it will supposedly come true.

At the heart of the city lies the Piazza delle Erbe, where booths selling clothes, souvenirs, antiques and fast food have replaced the markets of yesteryear. For a bird's eye view of the Verona's rooftops, head up the Torre dei Lamberti in the neighboring Piazza dei Signori.

The city is also home to a wealth of Roman ruins dotted around the place which get archeologists dribbling and prove of interest to anyone else who likes delving into the past. The Teatro Romano dates back to the first century and is still in use today for various concerts and performances. The Museo Archeologico perched above displays a number of Greek, Roman and Etruscan finds. Those who want to see what a genuine Roman street looked like can wander down to the Porta Leoni to admire the excavations.

Verona's famed amphitheatre, the Arena, dates from the first century when the crowds gathered to watch gladiatorial fights, jousts, tournaments and nightly games. Now it used for musical performances, in particular the annual Opera Festival with its blow-the-budget production of Aida, but the atmosphere still gets as intense as it did two thousand years ago.

The labyrinthine Castelvecchio contains numerous paintings, sculptures, jewellery and weapons dating from the late Middle Ages. And for something a bit different, head to the Museo Africano to cast your eye over the array of musical instruments and masks on display.

As with many Italian cities, Verona contains numerous churches but the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, built above the tomb of the city's patron saint, is one of the most important Romanesque churches in northern Italy.

When you tire of your sight-seeing schedule then the fountains and shaded enclaves of the Giardini Giusti, the finest formal gardens in Verona, provide welcome relief.

If you're around at Easter time then take to the streets for the Carnevale when people get dressed up, watch the procession of floats go by and cover everything in sight with confetti. Those with a penchant for wine can sample the local produce at Vinitaly, Italy's main wine fare. Otherwise, head to any trattoria and pick yourself up a glass of wine for €0.60.

Many visitors to the Veneto overlook Verona in favour of the gondolas of Venice. But the city is as romantic -especially given the lack of snap-happy tourists and souvenir shops every two steps - but best of all, you can sit down to a mouth-watering candlelight dinner at the height of summertime without the wafting smell from the canals turning your stomach.